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Just when I start trying to enjoy my freedom of bed rest, life happens. Saturday night (less than 48 hours of being off bed rest) comes and I think my water/amniotic fluids are starting to leak. Since I wasn’t sure, we call the hospital and they encourage us to come to labor and delivery. We arrive close to 8:00pm. Although I am now 4 cm dilated, my water had not broken and I was sent home.

Early Sunday morning around 1:30am, I start having contractions. Once again I start timing them. This time they are a little more strong and are four minutes apart. I was sick of false alarms so I wait two hours to see if they slow down. They don’t. I wake Milton up. He suggests we go in. I say I don’t want the nurses talking bad about me since we just left. We give them a call. We head to the hospital.

We arrive at the hospital at 5:00am. I am 5 cm dilated. They quickly let me know it’s time to have a baby. Whoa baby! The contractions really start to kick in, especially in my back. I’m talking real, genuine pain. They ask if I want an epidural. PLEASE AND THANK YOU! Shortly after, the best medicine God could invent gets entered in my back. Moments later I feel as if I can conquer the world. I am now 7 cm dilated but I feel no pain whatsoever. Life is wonderful. The nurse breaks my water. Time quickly goes by and I continue to dilate. Around 10:20am, they come in and say it’s almost time. They get the delivery team set up in my room. I start pushing around 11:15am – and at 11:32 our beautifully, wonderfully, joyful son was born! They positioned a mirror so I could watch the entire thing and I’m glad that I was able to witness every minute.

Like all previous mothers and fathers say -it’s an overwhelming feeling you’ll always remember. Neither Milton or I cried, but we were just so full of joy and excitement!

So this morning, Friday June 1, was “the doctor visit” that would determine if I would go insane or keep my sanity. I received another cute ultrasound. After all the baby measurements, I glanced up at my doctor and said, “So am I finally off bed rest?!” She said, “Yes.” I didn’t ask her any more questions because I didn’t want her to change her answer. ALLELUIA! I was now 2-3cm dilated and 100% effaced so she still said to take it easy. There wasn’t really anything I wanted to do, I just wanted the freedom to do it if I needed to.

As soon as I leave the doctor, I head to my fitness studio. My first time being there since March 27. All I did was some administrative things and by the time I left, I was so worn out. I go home and once again put myself in bed to rest. Imagine that! I didn’t want to push myself but I also liked that a had mobile options (even if limited).

Saturday was similar. Milton and I went to charizYa Fitness so that I could see all of the ladies after Jessica’s Zumba class. It was so great to see them. It was also a sad time because I announced that I would be closing the studio at the end of June once my lease was up. Afterwards we walked across the street to the bank. Those two things tired me out so once again I went home to rest. Later that night we went to Cold Stone Creamery and ate some ice cream and then back home we went again.

It’s the simple things that make me happy. I have a license to drive and I’m finally able to use it!

Remember a week ago from today we went to Labor and Delivery at the hospital. I was 100% effaced and 2cm dilated. They said I would be back soon. They said I wouldn’t make it to my doctor’s appointment on Friday. Milton went to work and they changed his entire schedule around so that he could be available if I went into labor. He worked all week.

Friday morning rolls around and Milton and I head to my 8:00am doctor’s appointment. The cool thing was that they did an ultrasound on Baby Turner. He didn’t look like he was trying to be bothered but our cutie is a cutie. I’m not quite sure yet who he looks like. He is estimated to weigh 6 pounds.

While in the hospital on bed rest all four of the doctors talked about how great it would be to get to 36 weeks. My ob-gyn said the same. So, here I am sitting in the doctor’s office just two days shorts of 36 weeks. I’m excited because I met the magic number of 36 weeks which meant I should be off bed rest. W-R-O-N-G!!!!!!! She said, “let’s try another week”. Are you serious?! That’s what you’ve said the past two times I was here. My birthday was the following day. I asked if my husband and I could go to a movie. She said no. She let me go to church last week, but not the movie? I’m not sure what the difference is.

We went back home. Most of Friday and Saturday (my birthday) I was very sad and withdrawn. I felt I had followed all directions to get our child this far and for some reason whatever I was doing just didn’t seem to be enough. I sulked in my bed for most of my birthday and didn’t want to be bothered by anyone. Milton hated seeing me this way (although he was very supportive) and said “let’s go for a ride and get some sunshine.” It felt good to get out of the house.

Sunday, May 27 12:03am I start having contractions. My contractions are usually on a pain scale of 1-10 a 2-3 but now they were more like a 4-5 and four minutes apart. I call and they tell me to come in. I really felt like it was finally going to happen. We go in around 3:30am and they say they want to monitor me for four hours. The strength of my contractions decrease some, but I do start having major indigestion, heartburn and back pain. Excruciating pain. Like a 7-8. Milton had to go back home and get me some tums. Once he came back and I took some I was relieved and was able to sleep some.

At the end of four hours, although I was having contractions every 3-4 minutes, they weren’t strong enough for me to dilate any further so they sent me home. The nurse once again said it could be any day now. Yeah, I’ve heard that plenty of times.

So now I’m back home, on bed rest and once again waiting. Baby Turner is doing his own thing at his own pace. One day my baby prince will come!

Although I could have gotten off bed rest at week 34 and 35, at each visit my ob-gyn said to stay on for one more week. The last time I was told that was this past Friday. I asked my doctor for an exception to see if I could go to church this Sunday. She said yes. If my water breaks in church it must be God’s will! I really look forward to attending church, especially close to my birthday.

My mother passed away six years ago on May 23. My birthday is a couple of days later. In 2006 I was looking forward to the Sunday before my birthday because my mother and I were going to go to church and take communion together. This was an important Sunday because I would be turning 30 years old and my mother would be celebrating 5 years of living with Ovarian Cancer. Although my mother and I always attended church, rarely did we sit together because she was in the choir. However, we would always meet at the rail for communion. It was a very meaningful experience.

Well, that Friday before that Sunday, my mother’s health rapidly declined and we realized she only has days to live. I went to church that Sunday and just cried my eyes out as I realized that she and I would never again have communion together. She passed away several days later on May 23 (5 years to the date that she was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer).

So, now in 2012, I’m excited to once again go to church the weekend before my birthday. I was in the hospital for Palm Sunday and Easter so I looked forward to attending. Well, late Saturday night (starting around 1:00am) I started feeling menstrual type cramps. At times they were ten minutes apart. Other times I might not have one for an hour. So, I slept it off. Th next morning we wake up for church. We eat breakfast. While I’m waiting for Milton to finished getting dressed, I all of a sudden have severe stomach cramps. Like, really painful. I became worried that once again I wouldn’t be able to go to church. Luckily I popped in some Tums and was instantly relieved!

Church was great! I loved seeing many of the members that have known me since I was young. I sat through the entire service but went up with Milton to take communion. Once we got home, I took a nap. Several hours later I started feeling pressure in my lower abdomen – like Baby Turner was trying to set himself free.

Milton and I headed to the hospital. I was once again put on the monitor. I was having some contractions although they weren’t painful. However, I was now 100% thinned and 1.5-2cm dilated. I was given some terbutaline and told they would probably keep me overnight. Luckily, in the middle of the night, my contractions slowed down and Milton and I were home around 3:30am. HOWEVER, the doctor thinks Baby Turner will come this week. I am to return as soon as my water breaks or if my contractions are five minutes apart. I have a feel Baby Turner will either come on May 23 (the date of my mother’s death) or May 26 (my birthday). TIME SHALL TELL!!!

Today Baby Turner has made it to 34 weeks. Each and every day is a blessing. Although I thought I’d get off of bed rest this week, my doctor would like to keep me on for another week – so bed rest lives on. It was a difficult transition at first because I went from being in the hospital and having EVERYTHING done for me, to being at home and having just the opposite. Luckily I have an AMAZING husband that has been there 100% of the way and has never complained. I see how tired he is most nights, and a couple of times tried to help out. But I was told to lay back down and bake a baby.

This morning, Mother’s Day, I woke up to the following post from Milton on my Facebook wall:

Michelle: I have watched you grow literally and figuratively over the past eight months. A little over a month ago, I got a call saying that you had been rushed to the hospital by ambulance because of pre-term labor. I rushed to the hospital not knowing whether our son would be OK at little over 2 lbs. You were told you couldn’t get out of bed for a month, but you used love, patience, and ingenuity to help our baby grow to more than twice his size. You beat the odds when even your doc didn’t think you could make it this long. All the while, you still ran three businesses from a hospital bed. I know it was hard and we shared a lot of tough times and contractions together, but you learned the great skill every great mom has: sacrifice. Mothers sacrifice everything they have for their kids and you are living, walking (ok, maybe waddling right now), talking proof that that nothing is more valuable. Thank you for giving our son a chance at a healthy life. Happy Mother’s Day, baby. I love you.

Of course it brought tears to my eyes. Milton helps me realize that being on bed rest is not just about being lazy all day, it’s about creating a safe haven for a developing baby. Seven weeks ago my child try to make a special early appearance. Seven weeks. And for seven weeks I’ve helped slow down that process. Like Milton said, it’s the beginning of many sacrifices I’ll make.

Today was somewhat hard for me because I miss my mother. Both of my parents are deceased and today brings up the realization that neither will be around to raise/spoil their grandchild. My mother was one of the most amazing people you could meet. I don’t say this just from personal experience, but everyone that met her said the same. Even after her death, people were doing things to honor her. Nobody can replace my mother, but luckily many of her friends have stepped in to do motherly things. Currently a group of them have started organizing a food delivery list so that Milton doesn’t have so much to do after working a 10 hour day (with a two hour commute). They have been a blessing.

What would have made my mother proud is that I reached out to them for help. As an only child, one my my mother’s largest worries was that I didn’t reach out to people when I was in need and always tried to do everything by myself. I’ve come to realize, though, that especially once I become a mother, I will need people’s support, love and advice more than ever. Life is all about relationships. Some are built over time and some are unexpected. My mother has an amazing legacy because of relationships she established with others. I think I’m finally prepared to do the same.

Anyone that has ever been to Louisville, KY knows that the first Saturday of May is reserved for the KY Derby. Anyone that lives in Louisville knows that Derby season starts two weeks before and there are plenty of activities and parties to keep you busy.

One of my “side hustles” is running a website for urban professionals in the area. I give away tickets to many parties and also get to attend many of those parties for free. It’s a great time to reconnect with old friends, get my groove on and shop for a cute outfit. And while I thought I’d be okay to not be out and about this year – it’s starting to get to me. This will be the FIRST year since I’ve been of age that I haven’t been able to to attend a single Derby event. Even last year, Milton and I went out Thursday and Friday night before leaving early Saturday morning for our honeymoon.

Today is OAKS Day which is just like the Derby, but a day earlier. It’s the day many Louisvillians go to the races and all schools in the city are closed. Many of my friends have posted their Oaks Day pics in their cute dresses and matching hats. They all look AMAZING! And then there’s me – posted up in bed with a t-shirt and wild hairstyle.

It doesn’t help that I am now allergic to my medicine. I took prometrium every night in the hospital and was given a generic prescription when I left (it helps relax your uterus to prevent contractions). My first night home, my legs started itching profusely. I assumed it was from bed sheets that needed to be cleaned. I had the same thing happen a couple of days later and even after I took a shower, the itching didn’t stop. I looked at the bottle and it said “Do not take if you have a peanut or soy allergy”. Yikes, I’m allergic to peanut butter. I called my doctor’s office. It was my doctor’s day off but another doctor suggested I take Benadryl. I really didn’t like that solution but gave it a try. This morning I wake up still itching some so I felt as if I had a dilemma. 1) Do I not take the medicine because of my food allergy, but risk having contractions/early labor? or 2) Do I keep taking the meds and pray nothing more major happens?

I tried calling the doctor’s office again this morning and guess what? Even they are closed and at the Derby! I left a message at 9:00am on the voice mail of the on-call doctor. At 3:00pm I still hadn’t heard anything. I call back at 3:20pm then the on call doctor calls back. After hearing about my condition for the past month he decided to prescribe me something different. Milton will pick it up on the way home. Part of me actually started missing the hospital and the level of care I received. Everyone (for the most part) was on the same page and a simple press of the button got me the help I needed.

Let’s hope Baby Turner keeps staying “in” so that after next week I can move around more and be out in public.